| As a result of reports of an impending leadership crisis among America's community colleges (Shults, 2001; Kelly, 2002) many community colleges implemented leadership development programs between the late 1990s and early 2000s giving birth to a number of program completers who have attained senior administrative positions including the presidency.;This phenomenological study reviewed the lived experiences of participants who completed one of the annual Chancellor's Leadership Seminars (CLS), a program implemented for the purpose of developing future community college presidents in Florida. The study sought direct feedback from past CLS participants regarding the relevance and efficacy of the CLS to their actual feeling of being prepared to respond to the responsibilities of their new positions.;Forty-four individuals responded to the calls for participants. Of the forty-four, seven respondents had been promoted after completing the Chancellor's Leadership Seminar thereby meeting the criteria for inclusion in the study. The seven participants completed a questionnaire and a survey. Additionally, four of the seven participants also consented to participating in a telephone interview.;Business, industry, and education are all facing many challenges. As such, future community college presidents must be well-versed in issues relating to funding, demographics, technology, society, the economy, as well as the importance of accountability and ethical leadership.;Past Chancellor's Leadership Seminars have been effective but, according to past participants, could have been more effective. |
